Helping each other with countless me.

Chapter 604 The Storm Arrives
The dust has settled.

Under the iron-fisted operation of the empire's highest authority, all those who had come into contact with the "baby meteor" incident, from top scientists to peripheral guards, were quickly and secretly integrated into a newly established department.

"Imperial Bureau for Handling and Responding to Extraordinary Phenomena", abbreviated as "Extraordinary Bureau".

Sir Oliver was appointed Director, with full authority over the coordination and confidentiality of related matters.

Captain Benjamin, who lost his composure and cried out in shock upon witnessing the collapse of the laws of physics in the command center, yet maintained a degree of rationality under extreme pressure due to his exceptional talent, was promoted to colonel and appointed as deputy director, responsible for the administrative operations of the entire Bureau of Extraordinary Powers.

Finally, those scientists whose worldviews had almost collapsed were packaged up and sent to the logistics department of the Extraordinary Bureau, becoming the key cogs that actually maintained the operation of the entire Extraordinary Bureau.

In short, the entire imperial machine, under the Queen's will, began to quietly adjust in preparation for the coming new era.
Deep within the palace, in the Queen's private living quarters.

The fireplace was still warm, but the atmosphere was completely different from that thrilling night.

Queen Isabella IX did not wear an elaborate court dress, but rather a simple and comfortable silk casual outfit, with her long hair casually tied up.

She was sitting on a soft carpet, with the baby radiating a gentle glow in front of her.

He was awake, his big, dark eyes curiously surveying his surroundings, occasionally reaching out his chubby little hand to try and grasp at the faint light that didn't exist in the air.

Isabella held a delicate silver rattle and gently shook it, making a clear sound that attracted the baby's attention.

Her gaze was no longer that of the sharp, cold monarch in the court, but rather carried a complex, almost probing tenderness.

Less than a month is enough to change a lot.

When the fundamental rules of the entire world are loosening, the meticulous calculations of the past regarding the balance of power and factional checks and balances seem so pale and ridiculous. Isabella clearly realized that in the face of real power, where an individual can shake mountains and rivers, the power tactics of the old era are as fragile as sandcastles.

Therefore, she made a decision that seemed almost crazy to outsiders: she took the initiative to relinquish power.

Most of the tedious daily administrative affairs were delegated to the cabinet and parliament, while only the final decision-making power and military power were retained.

Her official reason was that "the emperor needed to extricate himself from trivial and complicated matters so that he could think about the long-term strategy of the empire," but the real reason was known only to her.

She needed time—time to adapt to the increasingly responsive and powerful mental force within her, and more importantly, time to "cultivate" her relationship with the "source of power" in her arms.

This mental power is more amazing than you can imagine.

It is like a living tentacle, ignoring spatial barriers.

Isabella had experimented with this; she could easily attach a barely perceptible wisp of her mental energy to any official, like leaving an invisible mental mark on her prey.

Through this mark, she can not only vaguely sense the other person's emotional fluctuations, but also "see" and "hear" everything happening around the mark as if she were there in person.

Within a few days, her "eyes" and "ears" quietly fell upon the key ministers in the empire's core circle, the powerful figures in various departments, and even several generals who held military power.

The massive flow of information initially nearly drove her to a mental breakdown, but with her strong willpower and gradually growing telekinetic control, she began to learn to filter and categorize it, transforming that vast amount of private information into an absolute, unknown form of control.

She knew that the Chancellor of the Exchequer complained to his mistress about the lack of parliamentary funding.

It is known that the Minister of War is privately deeply concerned about the performance of the new warships.

Knowing every dishonorable "thank you gift" that certain officials accepted.

She even knew some unspoken rules at the bottom of the officialdom, things that all officials would jointly uphold and would never reveal to the emperor. For example, it was possible to do things first and sign later. The essence of this was that the empire had a vast territory but poor transportation, so it was a way to increase efficiency. However, with the advent of the technological age, this was no longer a problem. Yet, no official would raise this issue, simply because it was too convenient.

However, this is also a deconstruction of power, an excavation of the roots of the Kingdom of Red.

But it doesn't matter, Isabella IX doesn't care now.

She was like a god hidden behind the scenes, coldly observing the loyalty and betrayal, integrity and greed of her subjects.

She won't use this trump card lightly.

Being constantly monitored is something no dignified person can tolerate, even if the other party is an emperor.

If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. As long as the bottom line is not crossed and the stability of the empire is not affected, she will turn a blind eye.

But she also knows that with this "omniscience," she can precisely extinguish any spark that might ignite a wildfire at critical moments, or support those who truly need it.

This kind of control is more thorough and more awe-inspiring than any overt power struggle.

She believed that, as time went on, those ministers with guilty consciences, even if they didn't understand why, would feel a deep-seated unease when they met her gaze.

Her fingers gently brushed across the baby's delicate cheek, and the baby giggled and grabbed her fingers.

A warm and powerful force returned to her, calming her mind.

"So, what exactly is our relationship?"

Isabella gazed into the baby's eyes, which occasionally flashed a depth as profound as the starry sea—a look that was not typical of an infant—and fell into deep thought.

"Master and weapon?"

"wrong."

"This little baby can't speak and seems to have no sense of self, but the affectionate and peaceful emotions he conveys are absolutely not like that, whether he is the master or the master is not."

"Mother and child?"

The Empress shook her head as well.

What right did she have to allow a god in his infant form to be her son? The thought of having considered the throne before made her blush. How could a god care about the things of mortals? Just like a king wouldn't care what a beggar has.
"Partner?"

She could sense that this power was not entirely under her control; the sense of contract that "close relationships determine the strength of power" was incredibly real. She was more like a "custodian" or "representative" who had been granted the right to use it.

It's clear that he's in his most vulnerable period right now, so he needs a safe space to grow, since his nemesis is probably also in this world.

However, this does not mean that I am entitled to follow in his footsteps indefinitely. What is a partnership? It means that everyone is on equal footing.

To put it bluntly, she was more of a transitional figure.
"Friends"

Finally, Isabella came to this conclusion.

Only the word "friend" can fit everything right now. She can help the current god cubs, but she is destined to fall behind the gods in the future. And friendship doesn't care about these things.

"Then, my little friend."

Isabella murmured to herself, a complex smile playing on her lips. "May our friendship last forever. Let's see together what this new era will bring. Here, have some milk!"

As she spoke, the Queen placed the nipple of the filled milk powder bottle into the baby's mouth, and the little one began to drink it in large gulps—
Dividing line

Deep within the palace, there lies a secluded and heavily guarded independent courtyard, privately known by the palace staff as "Quiet Courtyard."

The gates here are always tightly closed, and apart from a very few servants who are absolutely trusted by the Empress, no one knows who actually lives here.

For the past five years, speculation about this place has never stopped. Some say that the Empress kept her most beautiful lover there, while others speculate that it was a place where some kind of secret ritual was performed.

Rumors abound, yet no one dares to truly investigate.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall stained-glass windows, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the mirror-like floor.

A steady, rhythmic sound of footsteps approached from afar, breaking the tranquility of the corridor.

Queen Isabella IX arrived gracefully.

Today she wore a magnificent court dress, the kind of dress only worn on formal occasions. The deep purple velvet fabric was embroidered with intricate gold emblems, and the skirt trailed on the ground. She wore a small but symbolically significant crown.

Her face was more dignified than it had been five years ago, her eyes were deep, and she exuded a powerful aura of someone who had long held a high position.

The guards and ladies-in-waiting they encountered along the way all bowed deeply in utmost respect.

She waved away the servants who followed her and pushed open the seemingly ordinary oak door alone, which actually contained the latest technology and hidden magical protection.

Inside the door lies another world.

Rather than being the residence of an important person, it's more like a fairytale wonderland filled with all sorts of toys.

Scattered on the soft, colorful carpet are building blocks, models, and toy train tracks.

The walls are covered with stickers of cartoon animals, and the bookshelves are crammed with picture books.

In the center of the room, a black-haired boy dressed in simple cotton clothes was facing away from the door, intently fiddling with an extremely complex mechanical castle model.

He looked to be about five years old, with a small stature and a focused expression unique to children.

Seeing this, Isabella's stern gaze softened, and a helpless yet indulgent smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

Who would have thought that the person who had kept the Empire's highest authority, the "Supernatural Bureau," operating in secrecy for five years and was considered the Empire's greatest secret and ultimate reliance, had a hobby of playing with toys?

I remember he once explained it in that childish yet logically clear tone.

“I am a freshman. My past memories are like books in a library. I know they are there, but it takes time to browse and understand them. Right now, I am essentially a child. Children should do what children should do and experience the emotions that children should experience. Carrying too much too early may distort the ‘foundation’ of growth.”

These words, spoken in a mature and sophisticated manner, combined with her youthful face, always made Isabella unable to suppress a smile.

“LZR”.

Isabella called softly, using the name he approved of.

He chose the code name LZR for himself, but he never explained its meaning. Isabella also tacitly refrained from asking, after all, there must be a reason why the gods do this.

Of course, what Isabella IX didn't know was that Chung-Ren simply didn't want outsiders to know his real name, lest it be predetermined by the Supreme Will.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhongren turned his head, revealing a face as delicate as a porcelain doll, with clear and bright obsidian-like eyes. When he saw Isabella, a smile appeared on his face.

Good morning, Isabella.

After saying that, he turned back and continued assembling the toy in his hand, a model made of metal building blocks that looked like a black cube.

"Little devil."

Isabella bent down and gave the little guy a tight hug.

Five years have passed, and the baby who needed to be held with utmost care has grown into a heavy little boy.

Isabella instinctively hugged him tightly, feeling the warmth of his soft little body. She was wearing a low-cut dress, and LZR's cheeks inevitably buried in that soft and plump cleavage, making a "woo-woo" sound as if he was about to suffocate.

Isabella then smiled and loosened her arms, standing behind Li Zhongren, looking at him as if he were a black cube being pieced together.

"Why do you have time to dress so formally to see me today? At this time, you're usually in meetings with those ministers or researching a hundred ways to use telekinesis."

Isabella gently stroked his soft black hair, her movements tender, but her gaze gradually grew serious.

She didn't answer immediately, but instead savored the moment of peace.

Over the past five years, it was this seemingly ordinary child in front of her that gave her an "omniscient" perspective that looked down on all living beings, allowing her to delegate power with a detached attitude while firmly controlling the core of the empire.

As she had hoped, their relationship gradually evolved into a deep friendship that transcended calculations of self-interest and bordered on familial affection.

She was his most trusted protector in the world, and he was her greatest source of confidence in the face of the unknown future.

How do you know I didn't come to see you?

"Come on."

Li Zhongren blinked and said with certainty.

"Otherwise, you wouldn't have come here at this time, wearing this 'battle armor'."

Isabella sighed, gently running her fingertips through his bangs, and finally spoke, her voice low and serious.

"You guessed it. After five years of silence, 'it' has finally arrived."

LZR paused for a moment while playing with her hair, and the childlike innocence in his eyes quickly faded, replaced by a profound insight and understanding that was completely out of character for his age.

Isabella continued, her tone carrying a barely perceptible tension.

"The Bureau of Extraordinary Events has confirmed the first truly extraordinary event, not an ambiguous rumor, but a real individual event that can be repeatedly observed, cannot be explained by current science, and has clear supernatural characteristics."

She looked down at the little boy on her lap, as if reporting the beginning of an era to her most important "friend" and "ally".

"A storm is coming."

(End of this chapter)